I have a LLLL.com domain name that has no trademark listed with USPTO.gov for the LLLL. Since there is no trademark, would it be legally safe for me to then notify a few companies/groups which use the name to let them know that the LLLL.com is for sale?.

I'm not sure whether or not I would be protected from the cybersquatting laws since there is no trademark with the USPTO.

I've owned the domain for close to 7 years and only recently started checking to find out if there are any other companies or groups that might be interested in the domain. It turns out that there are 2 individual musicians, 1 rock band and a company in Japan that use this name - but none of them have US trademarks.

Any advice is appreciated...

Comments (5)

I don't think you'd have any trouble with the bands, but the company you might have trouble with. I would check if they have a TM anywhere else in the world, because they still can try and get it from you. I would have a look around before you do anything...

Comment #1

Does the fact that the domain is Mayz.com and I live in a town called "Mays Landing" protect me in any way? Would I just be better to put the domain up for sale and simply not let them know that it is for sale?.

I would rather let anyone who might be interested know about it, but I do not want it to appear that I had bad motives in registering the domain 7 years ago. I just never used it and now would like to sell it...

Comment #2

John -.

A lack of a registered TM does not mean you are free and clear; in the US, you do not need to have registered your TM, only used a mark in commerce, to have an effective TM. Just a word of possible warning.

-Allan..

Comment #3

Hmmm... there is very little that can protect you against the consequences of living in South Jersey...

Comment #4

I know my intentions with this domain were perfectly fine. Mayz = Mays Landing... I just wanted a short domain that would be easy to remember for a website related to my community (mayslanding.com was already taken). I think maybe I'll just play it safe and put the domain up on a parked type "domain might be for sale" page. Anyhow... Isn't that the truth.

I'm recently engaged, so it will probably be sometime after getting married (and hopefully by then I have many of my domains sold so I can afford to move elsewhere).

NJ is basically a financial mess. The politicians spend-spend-spend, then when they don't know how to pay for the debt (32+ billion) they lay it back on the taxpayers again...

Comment #5

This question was taken from a support group/message board and re-posted here so others can learn from it.